Maria M. Aaron, MD, is a professor in the Department of Ophthalmology within Emory University School of Medicine. She is director of the section of Comprehensive Ophthalmology at Emory Eye Center and is chief of service at the Emory University Hospital Midtown location (Medical Office Tower). From 1999 to 2011, Dr. Aaron served as residency program director.

Dr. Aaron was elected to the Program Directors Council of the Association of the University Professors of Ophthalmology and in 2010, she received the prestigious Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education. The award was dually conferred by the presidents of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO). She also received the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) Parker J. Palmer "Courage to Teach" Award, which is presented nationally to 10 outstanding residency program directors for their commitment to teaching and their innovative and effective teaching methods.

She served as president of the Program Directors’ Council of AUPO (2008) and as the vice-chair of the Ophthalmology Residency Review Committees for the ACGME. She received an Achievement Award from the AAO and is an associate examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology’s Oral Board Examination.

She is a sought-after speaker, particularly for residency program director sessions on a variety of GME topics. She has published a number of articles and chapters on topics related to resident education and has lectured widely at national ophthalmic meetings on a variety of important competency and accreditation topics. Her most recent interest is in the area of generational differences in academic medicine.

Dr. Aaron is a manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, and Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Year Started Practicing: 1999

Year Started Practicing at Emory: 1999

Organizational Memberships: Chair of the Special Projects Committee for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual MeetingAmerican Academy of OphthalmologyAssociation of University Professors of OphthalmologyGeorgia Society of Ophthalmology

This Web site is provided as a courtesy to those interested in Emory Healthcare and does not constitute medical advice and does not create any physician/patient relationship. Also, Emory Healthcare does not endorse or recommend any specific commercial product or service. This Web site is provided solely for personal and private use of individuals accessing this information, and no part of it may be used for any other purpose.